Eckerd property sold

For the first time since April, there’s good news for an almost-developed corner at 59th Avenue and 20th Street in west Greeley.

A Greeley developer has taken the reins of the property that was abandoned last spring when Eckerd Drug Store cut off its Colorado arm, thus abandoning new stores under construction in Evans, Greeley, Windsor and Fort Collins.

Nick Francis, a Greeley developer, took over the property Oct. 31. The momentum already is moving forward, with two businesses — TCBY and Nu-Way Cleaners — set to locate at the planned 14,000-square-foot building that should hold up to eight businesses.

“We’re going to take a piece of ground that was abandoned and make it really a nice site,” Francis said. “We bought the building as a family investment, and we plan on keeping it for a long time.”

Francis owns other property in Greeley and Evans, and he also is developing 358 homes at The Ridge at Prairie View in Evans. He said he looked around quite a bit before settling on the former Eckerd property.

“That one was the most attractive and one that we can put in some sweat equity and build a nice building,” Francis said. “We think it’s an excellent location. What I’m looking for (in tenants) is people who can come in and be a part of the area and service the needs of the people.”

Recommended Stories For You

Nu-Way Cleaners already has signed a lease and TCBY Yogurt has signed a letter of intent, said Ron Randel, associate broker for Wheeler Management in Greeley, which is listing the property. “Now, we know what the use is going to be and we finally have a picture of what the building is going to look like. They are almost ready to put it out for bid on the construction.”

The building will be large enough to house up to eight businesses at 1,200 square feet each. Francis hasn’t chosen a construction firm yet but said construction should get under way in January. The completion date is set for mid-June, depending on the type of winter Greeley gets this year.

He said he also is selective about prospective tenants and hopes to have two restaurants in the building.

“We’d like to get higher-end businesses, and we’re looking for some good restaurants,” Francis said. Now, he has designs on importing a health food deli called Baggins Gourmet Deli from Tucson, Ariz.

“They do organic sandwiches and food for vegetarians; they have a real healthy menu,” Francis said.

TCBY will be a draw for the kids playing baseball at the Youth Sports Complex farther west on 20th Street, Francis said, and Nu-Way, with a drive-through, will catch their parents on their way to work.